This guide was created to help make the month of September a little bit easier for you!

Topics:

Weekday Activities with Little Ones

Apple Picking & Playground Map

Book Donations

ADIRONDACK TAEKWONDO

1593B Route 9, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Follow Adirondack Taekwondo on Facebook and Instagram.

Click here to visit their website.

Phone #: 518-373-0442

ALBANY’S INDOOR ROCKGYM

Enjoy the cooler temps and beautiful colors of Fall out on the rocks. Outings listed every Sunday now-October, no experience required. Visit our website for more info. Rainy day? Come visit us at the gym to climb, cave and host your next birthday party.

4C Vatrano Rd, Albany NY, 12205

AMAZING ATHLETES OF THE CAPITAL REGION

Amazing Athletes is offering outdoor classes this fall!  Join us in Albany, Bethlehem, Clifton Park, Latham or Ravena. Your child will learn 10 different sports in an exciting and supportive environment!  Children in Amazing Athletes routinely gain greater confidence, learn to combine fitness with fun, and develop key motor skills!  Classes available for 2- 8 year olds (including Mommy & Me).  Sign Up Here: www.amazingathletesny.info

Follow Amazing Athletes of the Capital Region on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website.

Phone # 518-205-8586

Email: [email protected]

APEX ENTERTAINMENT

Apex Entertainment offers fun for all ages with a 65+ game arcade, 22 lanes of bowling, thrilling hyper-realistic VR, laser tag, dining and so much more! Located in the lower level of Crossgates Mall, Apex is a great venue for birthday parties or a fun day out with the family!

1 Crossgates Mall Road, Albany, NY 12203

Follow Apex Entertainment on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter

Click here to visit their website.

Phone #: 518-426-8666

Email: [email protected]

ART IN MIND CREATIVE WELLNESS STUDIO

All ages and abilities can come to explore, create, learn, have fun, and leave the mess behind, in our peaceful and safe environment! Art in Mind Studio offers Open Studio (great family time!), Homeschool Art Programs, Art Enrichment Classes, Art & Craft Club (NEW!), Chef’s Club, Comics Club, Camps, Private Lessons, Private Parties, Paint & Sip classes (family friendly!), Take-home Kits, and more!

Check out our website for information, including the calendar page for dates, details, and registration.

123 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY 12302

Follow Art in Mind Creative Wellness Studio on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website.

Phone #: 518-477-3798

DUTCH APPLE CRUISES

Dutch Apple Cruises is located in downtown Albany, NY on the scenic and historic Hudson River! We offer sightseeing, sunset & special event cruises, that are open to the public. We also offer private cruise rentals for your next event. Please visit Dutchapplecruises.com for information, schedules & to purchase tickets!

1 Quay Street, Albany, NY 12202

Follow Dutch Apple Cruises on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website. 

Phone #: 518-463-0220

Email: [email protected]

FLACH GYMNASTICS ACADEMY

Our Philosophy and focus is to generate belief in children while learning a sport in a fun and safe environment! We will challenge your child physically through coordination, strength, balance and motivate them mentally by setting goals and helping them overcome fear all while having fun and being innovative. Our gymnastics classes are for children beginning at 18 months old. They will explore the gym by using the gymnastics apparatuses: vault, bars, beam and floor along with our tumble trak. We have many creative ways to teach gymnastics and help athletes to achieve goals for any sport they choose!

EAST GREENBUSH, NY

164 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY 12144

(518) 694-3777

HUDSON, NY

488 Joslen Blvd, Hudson, NY 12534

(518) 828-3421

Follow Flach Gymnastics Academy on Facebook (Hudson), Facebook (East Greenbush) & Instagram

Click here to visit their website.

Email:  [email protected]

HOLLOWED HARVEST

Experience the spooky family-fun of Halloween at the Hollowed Harvest! The Hollowed Harvest brings to life more than 7,000 incredible Jack-O’-Lanterns creating stunning landscapes and larger-than-life displays designed to amaze audiences of all ages! This year, Hollowed Harvest will feature dozens of brand new larger-than-life Jack-O-Lantern displays, some towering as tall as 2 stories and spanning more than 50 feet in length!

Altamont Fairgrounds, 129 Grand Street, Altamont, NY 12009

Follow Hollowed Harvest on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website. 

Phone #: (518) 252-0755

IMPACT ATHLETIC CENTER

Impact Athletic Center is excited to bring sports-themed fun to kids this fall! Beginning in October, our multi-sport facility will offer a variety of fun and engaging programs for kids; including drop-in care, day and vacation camps, classes, and special events. Impact’s diverse programming will provide opportunities for kids to participate in sports-related, recreational, educational, and social activities.

390 NY-Route 146, Halfmoon, NY 12065

Follow Impact Athletic Center on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website.

Email: [email protected]

KEN CLOUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

Ken Clough Photography is a wedding and portrait photographer serving the greater Capital District. Whether it is a couple portrait, a family portrait, a fashion portrait, a senior portrait, or a professional portrait, we want you to look your best. Let’s make great photographs to share with great friends. Call or email to schedule your Senior Portrait Session today!

33 Elk Street Suite 101, Albany, NY 12207

Follow Ken Clough Photography on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit his website.

Phone #: 518-618-2064

Email: ken@kensportraits.com

KINDERMUSIK AT SARATOGA SINGS

SPECIAL OFFER: Receive $10 off your very first enrollment with discount code capitaldistrictmoms.

Kindermusik at Saratoga Sings! is offering preschool, toddler, and baby music and movement classes for children birth to 5 years. We have been connecting parents and kids for over 20 years at Saratoga Springs UMC using Kindermusik’s research-proven curriculum. Join us September 14th for a new six-week session and be sure to use discount code capitaldistrictmoms to receive $10 off your very first enrollment!

Follow Saratoga Sings LLC on Instagram

Click here to visit their website. 

Phone #: 518-871-1530

Email: [email protected]

MARCELLA’S APPLIANCE CENTER

Since 1957 Marcella’s Appliance Center has been serving capital region families essential kitchen and laundry appliances they depend on day after day to cook, clean, refrigerate and sanitize. Shop Marcella’s in-store, online or by phone with the area’s best selection of appliances and pricing. Our showrooms are conveniently located in Schenectady and Clifton Park, stop by to speak with an experienced appliance expert today or visit www.marcellasappliance.com to learn more.

SCHENECTADY SHOWROOM

560 Broadway, Schenectady, NY 12305

518-381-1957

CLIFTON PARK SHOWROOM

Shoppers World, 15 Park Ave, Clifton Park, NY 12065

518-952-7700

Follow Marcella’s Appliance Center on Facebook & Instagram.

Click here to visit their website.

OLD BRICK FURNITURE AND MATTRESS COMPANY

Old Brick is a local, family-owned and operated furniture + mattress store with prices guaranteed to be 10-30% less every day! With 7 locations and coming to Clifton Park, NY Fall 2021, find furniture and accessories for every room in your home, plus take advantage of interior design services and financing to make your dream home a reality.

NEW YORK: Albany, Schenectady, Queensbury + Clifton Park — Coming Fall 2021!

VERMONT: Bennington, Manchester + Rutland

MASSACHUSETTS: Pittsfield

Follow Old Brick Furniture and Mattress Company on Facebook & Instagram.

SARATOGA CLAY ARTS CENTER

Come have fun and explore the world of clay at Saratoga Clay Arts Center. Kids (and adults too) will learn a wide variety of techniques and learn how to make pottery and sculpture from start to finish through wheel throwing on the potters wheel, handbuilding with coils and slabs, and how to glaze and fire your masterpieces. Visit www.saratogaclayarts.org to check out our fall classes and workshop schedule, and sign up today.

167 Hayes Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871

Follow Saratoga Clay Arts Center on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website.

Phone #: 518-581-CLAY

Email: [email protected]

SPORTIME 

SPORTIME is the Capital District’s leader in world-class tennis instruction, with an elite team of international tennis professionals.  Welcoming children as young as age 4, our SPORTIME U10 tennis program develops well-rounded, competitive athletes by focusing on the physical, social, and cognitive growth of the players. Using appropriate sized courts, rackets, and low-compression balls, our young athletes learn to play the game of tennis quickly. SPORTIME also offers a variety of age and skill level classes and programming for juniors ages 11-18, meeting the needs of both recreational and competitive players, including nationally ranked players. Call 518-356-0100 to get started today!

2699 Curry Road, Schenectady, NY 12303

Follow SPORTIME Schenectady on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website.

Phone #: 518-356-0100

Email: [email protected]

TAISSHA G. LAREAU

WARDROBE STYLIST

TURNING POINTE DANCE CENTER

18 Hemlock Street, Latham, NY 12110

Follow Turning Pointe Dance Center on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website. 

Phone #: (518) 783-1800

Email: [email protected]

VISCHER FERRY GENERAL STORE

357 Riverview Road, Rexford, NY 12148

Follow Vischer Ferry General Store on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website. 

Phone #: (518) 579-0195

Email: [email protected]

WINTERTIME WONDERLAND

195 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham NY 12110

Follow Wintertime Wonderland on Facebook and Instagram

Click here to visit their website. 

FREE WEEKDAY ACTIVITIES WITH LITTLE ONES

Pitney Meadows Community Farm
September 10, 2021 – Storytime on the Farm
Click here for more information and to register.

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park
Many events throughout the month: Pond Discovery, Nature Arts Hours, Preschool Nature Hour
Click here for more information and to register.

Storytime Registration Begins at the Colonie Library
Registration begins Saturday, September 25, 2021 for storytimes during the month of October/November.
Click here for more information.

Family Story Time on the Back Lawn at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library
Monday, September 20th; Thursday, September 23rd; Monday, September 27th & Thursday, September 30th
Story Time will start promptly at 10 am. Please bring a blanket to sit on. Feel free to arrive 15 minutes early to set up your spot. In the event of rain or inclement weather, Story Time will be CANCELLED. Check our website and social media pages for weather updates.
Click here for more information.

Ballston Spa Moms Group – A Ministry of Community Alliance Church
If you are a mom, this group exists for you! We hope this group will connect moms in Ballston Spa, especially those with young children so we can grow as moms and as Christians This group is open to women of all faith backgrounds. We wish to provide a forum for planning fun and engaging outings, social events, connections for our kids, educational opportunities, and growth in our understanding of God from a Biblical perspective. Please feel free to use this group to dialog about mom topics, share prayer requests, and to meet new mom friends!!
Click here to join the Facebook group.

Fun4Tots at Carman Road Community Church in Schenectady, NY
Stop in for a fun, interactive playgroup! We love to play and learn together through music & movement, art, games, and stories surrounding a weekly theme. Join us with your little ones (infant-preschooler) and see what Fun4Tots is all about!
Check out “Fun4Tots” on Facebook for more information.

Hike it Baby
“Mission: To connect families with babies and young children to the outdoors and each other.” There is a small fee per year to join Hike It Baby. You can get information on their website at Hike it Baby or join one of the local Facebook groups.  One local group is “Hiked it Baby Capital Region NY” with approx. 2,500 members and the other local group is “Hike it Baby Southern Adirondacks” with approximately 300 members.

Free Forest School
You can join or create a Local Group on Our Outdoors to connect with others in your area, ask for advice, share tips, and create community events! Visit www.freeforestschool.org/findagroup to see if a group has been created for your area yet. If it hasn’t, it’s quick and easy to get one started — visit www.freeforestschool.org/local-group-host to learn more. Follow Free Forest School on Facebook or Instagram.

Latham MOMS of Grace
MOMs of Grace is a meeting of mothers with the purpose of encouraging, mentoring, and building relationships, as well as supporting one another in the pursuit of Godly motherhood. This is a great place to develop friendships that may very well last a lifetime!
Click here to learn more.

Loudonville Community Church Moms
LCC MOMS is a supportive community group for mothers in the Albany, NY Capital Region. If you are looking to meet other moms in the area, establish lasting and meaningful friendships, receive encouragement and advice from mentors and peers, and hear teaching especially catered to you by local professionals…then MOMS is for you! We welcome mothers of all ages and backgrounds and love to see new faces.
Click here to join the Facebook group.

MOMS Club of Clifton Park
MOMS Club of Clifton Park is a local chapter of the International MOMS Club organization. They have a monthly meet up open to everyone to learn more about their group at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Clifton Park (They have no affiliation with the church. They just rent out the space).
Follow their Facebook page at @MomsClubofCliftonPark.

Mugs and Hugs Playgroup
Location: New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 916 Western Ave, Albany, NY
You can get more information on Meetup.com at Mugs and Hugs Playgroup

Niskayuna Mom’s Group
The Niskayuna Moms’ Group strives to connect moms, build community, and have fun. Most of the members live in Schenectady County, New York, though some hail from surrounding parts of the Capital Region. Follow their Facebook page @NiskayunaMomsGroup
Click here for more information.

St. Kateri Moms
This is a group for Catholic moms of the Capital District, both parishioners of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish and parishioners of other parishes. Come join us at our weekly play group, and enjoy fellowship in person and online. This group typically meets on Thursday mornings.
Join their Facebook group “St. Kateri Moms: Capital District Catholic Faith and Play Group” to learn more.

APPLE PICKING & PLAYGROUND MAP!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APPLE PICKING AND PLAYGROUND MAP!

BOOK DONATIONS

The RED Bookshelf takes donations from throughout our community of gently used children’s books. Our trained staff and volunteers work to clean each book and repair where needed. We work to make sure each book is as close to new condition as possible. These books are then placed onto bright red bookshelves for children and families. We provide a variety of books on each shelf, as our goal is for each child to be able to choose books of interest to them.

Click here to learn more.

Grassroot Givers

Grassroot Givers aims to spark a love for books in children and adults across the Capital Region. We accept donations of beautiful, like-new books and put them back into the community through various programs, such as Albany Feed-and-Read and Little Free Library. Since our inception in 2011, we have given out over 380,000 books to Albany Public Schools, Books for Troops, Albany County Headstart and countless other organizations.

Click here to learn more.

Little Feet Little Farm (Located in Ballston Spa, NY)

Facebook post on 8/14/21: “After dozens and dozens of visitors over the past month, our library is nearly EMPTY! Please, if you have any children’s books (baby to teen) that you want to donate- we will take them!!!” Their library is part of LittleFreeLibrary.org.

Click here to visit their Facebook page

The Book Nook (Friends of the Colonie Town Library)

We are thrilled to announce that the Book Nook has opened. Hours are Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  The Book Nook will follow the dates and times for the Farmers Market which is held at the Crossings off Albany-Shaker Road.

Click here to learn more.

The Friends Book Shop (Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library)

Some people used to say that the Friends Book Shop in the Saratoga Springs Public Library was one of the best-kept secrets. However, since it opened in 1995, it has doubled in sales, and also in the number of customers who now visit the store. With over 8500 items to choose from, the shop now sells used books for adults and children, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, records, videotapes, and most items that are donated to the store. Eighty-five percent of the items in the store are donated and about 15 percent are library discards.

Click here to learn more.

The Whitney Book Corner (Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library)

The Whitney Book Corner is a delightful used book store in downtown Schenectady operated by the Friends of the Library; all proceeds benefit the library system.  Staffed by volunteers, the entire store is stocked with donated items, either from the public or from the  library. 

Click here to learn more.

The Bookseller (Friends of the Troy Public Library)

A used book store at the Lansingburgh Branch which helps raise funds for the library and distributes unsold books to community organizations.

Click here to learn more.

Bulk Book Warehouse

Bulk Book Warehouse is a family owned and operated used book business based out of Rotterdam, NY. Founded in early 2019 on a shoestring budget, we have expanded into a respectably sized business processing tons of books per month. We work with dozens of libraries, churches, schools and thrift stores to accommodate all types of book donation, discard and overstock needs. We also sell books through online marketplaces and fulfill partnerships with bookstores and fellow book sellers to fund our service to the community. Our goal is to find used books new homes. If you have books with some life left, we will take them off your hands.

Click here to learn more.

Little Free Library

Did you know Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 little libraries worldwide?

Click here to learn more.

**Many libraries also accept book donations; however, make sure to contact them first to see if there are restrictions on what you can donate.